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The Show Must Go On

Their poor director. The man's face turned so many different colors once he spotted them that Harry was a little worried that Fredrick would have a heart attack and die on the floor before Harry could get to him to give CPR. That's how bad the crowding around Harry and Eggsy was, to the point where Fredrick had to throw a lot of elbows and yell at the top of his considerable lungs to get through to reach them. But the TV vet who'd been directing Kingsman episodes for decades at this point was a large man in both height and width and was used to barking out orders at people who had been long trained to obey him. Ergo it only took three times as long as it probably should have for the man in question to reach them and demand to know what the hell the three of them had been thinking.

Since the majority of the man's ire was being aimed in Emma's direction because their look was supposedly her fault Eggsy naturally jumped into the fray before the director could go off on her and explained that Harry had lost a bet and this was his punishment. Wasn't it a brilliant idea on his part?

No. Hell no. An opinion Fredrick made very clear both verbally and facially as he expressed just how not brilliant it was.

So Eggsy launched into a little speech about how this could be used online and in the press to drum up interest in the show. Their ratings had been steadily dropping for years after all and this was Eggsy's last season with them. After this he wouldn't be around to boost viewership, which everyone had told him he'd been doing. So really this was his way of giving back to the show that had done so much to help launch his career. And seriously, who wouldn't tune in to watch a series where they'd get to see him and Harry looking sexy as fuck?

That got some cheers from their captive audience, but no surprise, Fredrick wasn't impressed.

"No. It will never float with the brass. There isn't a chance in bloody Hell this would be allowed, Unwin, and you know it. Hell, they wouldn't allow this for a straight couple, much less a gay one. Emma, what the hell were you thinking, letting him talk you into this? I expect this sort of insanity from him."

"That I want this bloody show to be renewed for more seasons, that's what I was thinking, Fredrick Henderson."

"And you can't deny the shock value alone will make people tune in." Harry couldn't help but add, feeling obligated to draw the director's ire back towards him and Eggsy since Emma was an innocent bystander. Technically.

"Yeah, and then it will have the censors, the brass, AND every self-righteous busybody in the whole fucking country up in arms against us. And don't even try to tell me times are changing or that the censors can go hang themselves, Harry. You know how this business works. I mean for fuck sakes-why the bloody hell weren't you the voice of reason seeing as these two have none!"

While Emma and Eggsy vehemently defended themselves Harry just sighed and shrugged his shoulders in an apologetic manner. It wasn't like he could argue that he hadn't known that this was a bad idea that would end badly. Of course he'd bloody well known. But Eggsy had him wrapped around his little finger and Harry didn't see that changing any time soon.

Fredrick's statement that Emma was to fix their looks and all three of them would have their pay docked for costing the studio time for this snapped Eggsy out of his defense of himself and reminded him of The Plan.

"But you have ta let us do the scene lookin like this now, Mate."

Fredrick's voice could not have dripped more sarcasm. "Oh really, and why's that, exactly?"

"Cause I posted pics of my look online and so did probably everyone in this frickin building with a phone. The fans have seen it now and if you straight wash Harry and I-well the backlash will be fucking huge. The negative press, Bruv...think about it."

Oh yes their director was thinking about it. And he was most definitely not liking what he was thinking even before he started looking around and saw all the guilty faces and phones being hastily hidden behind backs or shoved into pockets.

"All right, show of hands. Who here has posted this on the internet?" Fredrick practically bit the words off one by one. "And if you lie to me about this I will find out. You KNOW I will."

Pretty much half the hands in the room went up. The ones that didn't, well Harry surmised that they were as bad with technology as he was and therefore their lack of posting was likely more due to lack of skill than desire to join the posting insanity. Given that the romantic nature of their characters' relationship was being kept under wraps currently Harry assumed that the majority of the people had had the sense not to make the pictures widely available...but leaks would happen.

The creative and loud swearing coming out of Fredrick's mouth necessitated Harry to push aside his own thoughts so that he could remind the man that there were women present and he needed to watch his language.

"Seriously, Hart?!"

It was probably fuel on the fire, but Harry couldn't help but quote his 'Secret Service' character. "Manners maketh man."

"Yeah...and that got your character shot in the goddamn head!"

Well that was a bit harsh.

"Oi! No pickin on Harry. He tried to talk me out of this a hundred times already! Let's just shoot the scene and then if the brass don't like it then we'll reshoot it and it can go on the DVD and Blu-ray versions of the next season. Be an incentive for people ta actually buy it!"

Fredrick opened...then closed his mouth. His expression became thoughtful as he considered Eggsy's suggestion for a couple minutes of breathless silence, everyone waiting with bated breath.

"Fine. But if we have to reshoot it the money for that's coming out of your pay, Unwin."

"Deal."

"Both our pays. And Emma isn't to be penalized for going along with this." On that Harry was prepared to dig his heels in.

"Right. No pickin on Ems."

"Fine. Now both of you get your arses on set so we can get this shite show on the road. Christ. I should have listened to my mum and become a dentist, I swear to God."

And throwing up his arms Fredick walked away cursing his life choices.

Harry sympathetically watched him go and then turned his head to look in Eggsy's direction. Naturally the boy was grinning so widely it was a wonder his cheeks hadn't split open.

"See. I told ya it wouldn't be that bad."

Biting back the responses that came to mind Harry settled for sending Eggsy an expression that hopefully conveyed his thoughts on the subject. Namely that Eggsy should be counting his lucky stars right about now and he would be wise to keep his mouth shut for the remainder of the day unless they were on camera.

Eggsy just kept right on grinning.

Shaking his head Harry started towards the appropriate soundstage while silently praying for strength to get through the day.

Hurrying after him Eggsy nudged him in the side as he stated smugly that he'd told Harry it would work, hadn't he? And he hadn't even had to give the spiel about how the scene would be groundbreaking and Henderson would get credit as the director involved.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch. I'd bet a considerable amount that we're going to end up shooting another version of this scene and paying for it on top of it."

"Ya want ta wager on that?"

"Wagering is what got me into this situation in the first place." Harry pointed out, subtly reminding Eggsy that they still had an audience. Also, that what they were saying now could ultimately get back to the director and influence his future decision on the matter.

"Sounds like ya know I'm right."

"Easy there, Lad. Listen to him." Coming over Mark slung an arm over Eggsy's shoulder, an equally wide grin on his ruddy face. "Don't push your luck."

"Wot's he gonna do, fire me?"

Reaching over Harry placed his hand over Eggsy's mouth.

That Eggsy immediately licked it did nothing to improve Harry's mood-though it did distract him for a heartbeat.

"Frederick isn't like Fletcher or Smelton or Kerry." Harry reminded him after that momentary blip, rhyming off the names of other directors who frequently worked on Kingsman episodes. "He's very old school and not inclined to go off script. In any way. And while the higher ups won't let him fire you for this you need to respect the decades he's given to this show AND the fact that neither of us wants to be the one who gives him a fatal heart attack over something as silly as this."

"And if you cause him to have one you'll be the one delivering the CPR, Luv." Edie added, the actress giving Eggsy a quelling look too.

Hunching his shoulders, Eggsy finally looked at least a little sorry. "Shit."

"Well the show must go on." Mark reminded them. "And you two are certainly a sight to see."

"Right. Which reminds me, arm off. Don't want to smudge my makeup."

"Course not. Though not sure what Ems was thinking, doing you two up like this much. Taron maybe, but Colin..." Mark trailed off suggestively, even wiggling his eyebrows as he removed his arm.

"HART! UNWIN! NOW!"

Glad for the interruption Harry waved Mark off. "Duty calls."

Now for the fun of dropping his trousers and parading around for a few hours in just his pants. Joy.

)

On some level Colin was aware of the bright morning sun that was shining through the window and onto the bed. It was past time to get up and the sun's rays just confirmed it, the warmth they gave off nothing in comparison to the heat of the body lying against his own. Lying in his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like Taron was meant to lie in them. All was right and as it should be...but would it be that way once he opened his eyes and Taron opened his and they had to leave this bed and room? When they had to face the reality of-

"You're thinkin too loud."

Eyes opening in response to Taron shifting so that he was lying on his back rather than his side, Colin looked down and stared into Taron's heavily lidded eyes. "Ah-hello."

God. Could he sound any lamer?

The lips that had kissed him through the night and into morning curved into a knowing smile. "Hi back."

How was this not a dream? He'd imagine this so many times even though he'd felt so horribly guilty afterwards, knowing Taron would never-could never be his. That he was being a silly old man to even entertain the idea in his mind. Now here he was-and it was so very tempting to pinch himself-and for the life of him Colin couldn't begin to think of what to do or say. How to convey just how happy and terrified he was.

"Remember ta breath, Luv." Reaching up Taron smiled as he started patting Colin's curls. "I always figured you'd have serious bedhead in the mornin."

Of course he did. Colin could feel his cheeks heating up as he groaned at the thought.

"It's cute. I like it."

"I've seen myself in the morning so no, it's not."

"Well I say it is and I'm the one who gets ta enjoy ow it looks in the morning from now on. Cause last night wasn't a one time thing-ya know that right? I ain't given ya up, not ever."

"Nothing lasts forever. Especially old men." And God, he was old. And tired. And...and so many things he wish he wasn't.

"Now none of that. You're only as old as ya feel. Everyone knows that."

Edging ever closer to the panic spiral that threatened to pull him under Colin was about to get sucked in when he belatedly noted the worry and fear in Taron's eyes. And that put the brakes on his own freaking out in a finger snap. Because while he was very much aware that Taron deserved a great deal better than himself he also wasn't about to hurt him. Too many people-including himself-had hurt Taron by using and then discarding him. And Colin would sooner drown himself than let Taron think for a moment that the night before had meant nothing to him.

So he lowered his head and pressed the tenderest of kisses against Taron's forehead before drawing back, his eyes meeting and holding Taron's gaze.

"I've never been so happy, as I was last night. As you make me. I think you deserve all the happiness in the world and if I'm the one you want, for however long you want me, then I'm not going anywhere."

Was too weak and selfish to go anywhere now that he'd had a taste of heaven.

"I ain't Jack, Mr-Colin. That's gonna take some getting used to." Taron smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. "Guess I can still use Sir though, huh?"

"Taron."

Oh God, he'd just used his teacher voice.

"You have no fuckin idea ow sexy ya sound when ya use that voice."

Was it possible for someone to pass out from blushing too much? Colin had a feeling he'd be finding out before the day was done.

"What did I do to deserve you?" And Colin meant that both in an exasperated way, and in a 'How did I get so lucky' way. Taron had always inspired a wide variety of emotions in him.

A pause, then Taron suddenly started laughing.

"What?"

"Wot ya said. It made me think of that line-well song-from 'Sound of Music."

"From...oh!"

"For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good."

Smiling down at Taron, impossibly fond of him, Colin sighed and then stated that it never ceased to amaze him how eclectic Taron's taste in music and movies was.

"Well that is a classic. And don't worry, I ain't gonna ask ya ta go dancing round a gazebo with me."

"I should hope not. I'm a horrible dancer."

"Yeah. Ya kind of are."

Laughing in spite of himself Colin tried to work up a glare, though he was hardly successful.

"Did ya know that the actress who played Liesl, her foot actually went through the glass of that thing during filming? They took out the bandage later on, once they had the tech for it, but in the original ya can see it if ya really look."

"I didn't know."

"Yeah. Ouch." Taron's face scrunched up a little in sympathy before going back to its normal, mischievous lines. "But enough about that. You being older and wiser...ow about I depend on you...to start the day off right."

And so saying Taron pushed Colin onto his back, climbed up to straddle him, then leaned in to press their lips together in a kiss that definitely had some heat to it.

"CUT!"

)

Looking up at Eggsy, who was grinning down at him like the goddamn Chesire cat, Harry rolled his eyes and gave his lover a look meant to remind the little imp that they were supposed to be hiding the fact that they were now a couple. It had been Eggsy's idea to keep things on the downlow for goodness sakes, and that wouldn't remain the case if Eggsy didn't wise up fast. There had to be at least two dozen people watching them currently and Harry didn't have to be in the crowd to have a good idea what was being said and speculated at the moment.

Thankfully, or not since he very much liked being pinned onto a bed by Eggsy weight-Eggsy got off him with a lazy, feline grace and then strolled over to the director like he wasn't wearing only boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination.

God that beautiful arse.

Shaking his head Harry got off the bed too, embarrassed and hoping his arousal didn't show because he too was wearing nothing but pants at the moment. Though at least they'd put him in tight boxers. He would have preferred pajama bottoms, but no such luck.

Wishing he had pockets to shove his hands into Harry headed over to join Eggsy while behind him various crew members began setting up so that they could shoot the scene again from different camera angles.

"You're both lucky the marks hardy show." The director announced as soon as Harry was close enough. He was staring at the monitor, looking over what had just been shot.

"That is good news."

Eggsy rolled his eyes at him but Harry chose to ignore that as he asked the director if there was any changes he wanted to make to how the scene had been run through.

"No." Frederick stated very grudgingly, giving Harry a sidelong dark look before going back to his pursual. "You're both idiots...but you know what you're doing on set."

"And it will get us viewers..." Eggsy prompted, all wide eyed and innocent when Frederick gave him a quelling look, complete with a threatening finger in his direction.

"Shut it, Unwin."